MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, Desember 13, 2015
The Third Sunday of Advent,
Gaudete Sunday
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St.
Luke 3:10-18
And the multitudes asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than is appointed you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered them all, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
TODAY is the third Sunday of Advent. It’s called “Gaudete Sunday”. Gaudete is taken from Latin word, meaning rejoice. Gaudete in Domino semper. Rejoice in the Lord always.
We are invited to rejoice welcoming Jesus, Messiah. His coming is near. Christmas is in at hand. Jesus Christ is our best news. He is the face of God’s mercy for us.
In the third Sunday of Advent, we still meet St. John the Baptist who gives us announcement that the Messiah is about to appear. God himself has long ago promised us that he will send us a Redeemer who will save us from our sins, free us from oppression, fill us with the joy of his presence and bring us his everlasting kingdom of peace and righteousness.
And today through the Gospel, St. John brings good news to each of us who welcome Jesus, the Messiah. As the people who recognized that John was an extraordinary man of God and a true prophet who spoke in God’s name, we come out to hear the good news which he preached to them and now to each of us. As they willingly submitted to his baptism of repentance at the River Jordan where he preached, now we come to trust in Jesus Christ whom he announced.
In the Gospel we read today we find John’s message of renewal and repentance whic is very practical. He tells us three things. First, we must share what we possess with our neighbors, especially with those who lacked the basic necessities of life. By doing it, we express the great commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself.
Second, St. John points out the sacred duty to give each and every person what is their due and to not take from them what rightfully belongs to them. He commands that each person be treated with respect and that honor be given where honor is due. To the tax collectors and soldiers, St. John does not tell them to leave their profession, but to be good, honest, and respectful tax collectors and soldiers.
Thirdly, St. John exhorts us to be content with what we have and to avoid wrongfully desiring what belongs to others. Here St. John basically calls us to turn back to God and to walk in his way of love and righteousness.
What is the significance of the Gospel for us? First, whenever the Gospel is proclaimed it has power to awaken faith in us who will listen and turn to God. God is always ready to open our eyes to the spiritual reality of his kingdom and to the power and action of the Holy Spirit who transforms us into the likeness of Christ. We just believe that God’s word is good news for us and allow his word to take root and grow in our lives, so that will bring us the fruit of joy, freedom, and new life in the Holy Spirit.
Second, St. John’s message of good news arises in our lives a new hope and joyful expectation that this is now the decisive moment for the Messiah and Savior to come with power, justice, and judgment to establish his reign of peace and righteousness. We have to respond him with faith.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, we not only worship Jesus Christ, but also to trust in him as our best news. He is the best source of our hope and happiness. By adoring him, we want to be always on fire for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ when he comes in his glory.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, our baptism results in a new birth and entry into God’s kingdom as his beloved daughters and sons. You are ready to give us the fire of your Spirit that we may radiate the joy of the Gospel to a world in desperate need of your light and truth. Like St. John the Baptist, we too are called to give testimony to your light and truth. May we point others to you in the way we speak and live now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
